Accordion plate



J. GALLEAZZI ACCORDION PLATE Filed Oct. 24, 1925 2 Sheets-Shee't 1 ./NvE/vTm JEALLMZZ/ i July 19, 1927.

J. GALLEAZZI AccoRDIoN PLATE Filed oct. 24, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 2 l num 9 l 1 s l L n xl Nm/VTM? .f GALLEAZZ] A A `of the eeeordion.

eration ol' 'ont tivo @verering Patented July 19, 1927.

, UNI-reo 'STATES JOSEPH GAIJLEAZZL or :sAN FRANCISCO; CALIFORNIA.

ACGORDION PLATE.

Application `fne` 1,o itozber 24, 1925. seriaiNo. 64,584.

VThis invention relates-:lo improvements in neeordions rnd more Ipartioulzirly the nieehenisin for Operntii a' Vthe valves olf the erordion, vthe resin object being to provide e siinp-liied orin ot k7zilve operating; `meehe- 'isn which will materially reduce the Weight l 'sen the cost of .meri-titties tnre and simply; Y thegopere'tion thereof',

One of 'the olijeets .ot the invention Iis to 1providey en operating` mechanism of; the

f -lmreeter deseA hed whereby the usuel nurnber oit ehorls i'n'eeoh key, ,may be played ringe; :and eznort toon has here ltofore heen 4possihle end nr'zherinore with less mechanism thenghes heretofore jheen used,r the' said ineehavnisin ^vopere-ting gto ,produce e mejor chordfin given key, upon the depression or n'loveneent of e given Voperati i vl y of fthe ordinary key hoard-Ky und to then produce four vother Chords rin the Iseme key upon operation ,off another operating lneinlien thus providing for the 'ple vingoit live chords in muy key upon .the yo gmay he easily fingered or operated lith thenllove 1mentioned sind other olojeots in view the invention consists in vthe novel construction and Combination of ,per hereinafter dese 1ioed, 4illnstreted in the :ieeornpsnyine; drewings, and set forth in the elsinislzereto appended; it bei-ng' understood that ve ons changes in the forni, proportion,

und .-niinor details of construction within y"die scope oit the elsitnsiniriy he resorted :to Without deperti from the spirit or 'snori-` ieing any ol the advantages "of the driven tion. n

vReferring` toy the `drowings z F l represents n top plein view of the vulve` Operating ineehensni showingv parts of the mteord'on with which the Yseid int-rohe; nisln .is nssoeited.

F represents ,s 'fragmentary ver seetidnfil vexvtalrjen through `e. part o the eeeordion r"honing" e. detailed Hrrmigeinent of? toe ve. l, `opere.ting' ,nieoh-o ism ot the invention. t f f Fig-f3 represents n l'op plsnxview of :i 'peirt ol- 'llie'i'zrlve operating lneelmnisin. y

Figi'. l reinesents :1 ding* nrnetio vview of the vulve oigo@ n gnieehenism showing' the 'ion and an associo tl tion of f(telnr@nent @erts ol saidnieehenisnr 5 'o 9 inclusive ere diagrammatic x the relation.of the kControl i Cieted elements of the meehetsy y tical likewise opened.`

.partition 2 is mounted in the fboX and vis f A Jrovided with two sets of openings -e-nd '4 Which are controlled by sets -O valves designated ,5 d Yo respeotvely. llVhen these -velves are opened, the reeds :are vibrated in .the customary manner and said reeds and valves are related-es is customary in linstr-uments or' :this kind. Between ythe partition plete 2 vand the ripper side of `the box is e speee in Which-is mounted the 'operatingrv mechanism olf the invention. This operating ineehenisni is vprirnznily' operated loy ineens olf a pluralty of plungers or keys,generally designated 7, ,mounted yon a keyboard 8 rzmged 'onaside Wall of the box 1.,'tl1erefheing-.a key foreach ofthe valves. luxtendinn' from these keys are e plurality `ont rods 9 which :v -re pushed -reerwnrdor inward when the keys ere depressed. The inner. ends oft Athese rods ere pivoted to ltwo sets of hell cranks lOend l0, which ore-nks ure n-pivoted nent l1 onnzhar 1Q. The Ahell yoren es were Y correspondingly raised and opened. -f'When one or the tonal keys which :oriente the valves 5 :is depressed, end one foi the valves 5 is opened, n corresponding valve 6 is This produces one vot lthe nota-sof the scale. f f

Thofrods 9 of the other Or chord keys.v ere. connected With the other 4hell cranks l0?" ,which letterinsteed or being Connected with jections l17. These bell cranks 10a are a connecting medium between the chord keys and the remaining valve operating mechanisms, which latter when operated produce chords of the selected key of the scale.

The o erating mechanism for producing the chor s comprises twelve plate-like members mounted so that they may be moved bodily asone from a normal into four other p0- sitions upon manipulation of a single operating member located in convenient relation `;o the key board. These twelve members and associated mechanisms comprise a means of connection between inter-connected elements for simultaneously opening groups of the treble valves 6, and the twelve bell cranks 1()n operated b the chord keys. Each of the movable members is in the form of a rectangular plate 18 which is hinged to a rod 20 19 supported on slides 20 mounted on blocks 21 supported by the partition 2. The plates are therefore adjustable bodily back and forth and capable of independent swinging action on their hinges. The slides 21 are provided with extensions 22, the outer ends of which are connected with crank arms 23 ixtending'from a shaft 24 mounted in the box 1. The shaft 24 carries a crank arm 25 which extends upwardly into an opening 26 provided in the lid or closure 27 forthe box 1. This arm is adapted to be engaged by a downward projection 28 carried on a slide member 29 supported in a bracket 30 on the upper side of the lid 27. A chord changing lever l31vpivoted as at 32 on the lid 27 and at a oint intermediate of its ends, is provided with an opening, in which opening is engaged a pin 34 carried by the slide 29. The chord changing lever 31 when rocked will cause the slide 29 to move and the pin 34 engaging the crank arm 25 will cause they shaft 24 to turn or rock. The projections 22 carry ins 35 which are engaged with springs 36 astened to the box 1 in such manner that said springs are placed under tension upon movement of the plates 18, and parts eonnected therewith. These springs are arranged to normally hold the'plates 18 and associated parts in such position that when one of the chord keys is depressed, a minor or dominant` chord of the selected key, will be played. These springs also serve Vto hold the lever 31 in anormal position such that thelever may be moved into two operative positions in either direction. On moving the lever to the right, two chords will be produced and on moving it to the left, two other chords will be produced. Uponk each movement of the lever the plates 18 are moved into different positions as will be lateimore fully described, thereby producing the dif- Y ferent chords. The lever 31 is so arranged with respect to the keys 7 thatsaid keys and lever may be conveniently operated with one hand. The outer end of the lever may be shoulders 39 and 40 which check the movement of the lever 'at these points to designate the positions of the lever to produce difierent chords. Adjacent the ends of the member 37 are further shoulders 41 and 42 which indicate the positions of the lever to produce two other chords. These obstructions on the member 37 check the movement of the lever suiicientl to aid the operator in holding the lever in the proper positions.

Rotatably mountedv above the partition 2 are a plurality of parallel spaced shafts 43. From each shaft 43 and arm 44 extends beneath the row of plates 18 and rests on top of the lateral extensions 16 of each of the crank arms 10. By this arrangement when one ot the bell cranks 10 is rocked, the arm 44 resting on the extension 16 of said bell crank is raised and causes one of the rods 43 to be turned. Loops 45 are fastened to the valves 6 and extend upward around the arms 44 so that on the raising `of said arms, the valves 6 are opened. To provide for the opening of other of the valves 6 simultaneously with the opening of the valve 6 which is directl opened by the loop 45, said shafts 43 each ave a plurality of levers 46 fixed thereto andl extended over the members 18. The levers 46 have downward projections 47 adapted to engage the members 18. Thus, when a chord key 7 is depressed and one of the bell cranks 10l is rocked, one of the valves 6 is opened by the lifting of the arm 43 and the upward pull on the valve through the loop 45, causes other of the valves to open so that other notes in harmony with the not/e produced by the first named valve will be played and a chord will be produced. When the plate 18 above said bell crank is raised, it engages certain kof the projections 47 of certain arms 46, and causes said arms to be lifted. This turns certain of the shafts 43 and raises the arms 44 extending from said shafts. On raising of. these varms 44, the loops 45 lift the valves. By varying the positions of the plates 18, different of the arms will be raised and different valves 6 opened whereby different chords will be p ayed.

The members or plates 18 are each provided with a plurality of cuts or recesses 49 and projections 5() so arranged that each plate 18 will operate a grou of six of the arms designated 46, but not t e entire group simultaneously. In one position the plates will operate two of the arms 46, in another three, and so on, there being many combinations possible with this arrangement as will "l" to position shown in Fig. 8.

be' apparentt in Figsf4 to9 inclusive off'th`e=- drawing-s.

In the operation of the'accordio'nywhen one Otthekeys Tis depressedto'produce a givenncte,-tne rod@ 1s pushedrnnvard and rockslthe beli crank 10lso thattwo-otthekeys 7 is depressed, ior example thekey for producing the note C, and theibell cran-k1()ar is therebyy rocked. At'this timefthe plate 18 ior producing the chords inthe key of C,is in its n-ormalposition as shown in Fig. 7.

The entire group of plates 18 being Vthen inl the position shown in Fig. 4. As thefor- Viard end ot the bell crank lO"L thus Operated is liiited, the `projection 17 pushes upward* the member or plate 18 with which rit en-` gages. The `projection 4:7 for the rods 46 which operate thevalves producing E and G notes, are the only projectionsoi the groupwhich are engaged by the plate 18, as said plate is swung upwardly. However, the arm 4:5 which is connected with theA valve for-` producingthe C note, through the instrumentality ot the loop l5 is raised and the said C valve is opened. lWhen the projections t7 on the arms L16 which control the E and valves are pushed upwardly, said arms liti arepushed upward and cause those ot the shatts L18 to which they are connected, to rotate. Asthese shafts rotate, the arms dell extending therefrom to the E and G 'valves are. raised and through the loops 45 asscciated therewith, lift and open the E and tl valves. In this way the C, E, and Gr, vaives are opened and there -is produced 0r played a tonic -or'major chord in the key of C. By holding the@ chord key depressed, another chord in this key, for example the chord of the seventh, maybe played. To do this the operator engages the chord changing lever 31 and pushes it inward against the first stop or shoulder 40. This moves the rows of plates or members 18 into the position shown in Fig. 8, and the plate 18 "tor the key of C will then operate on the arms 16 which are associated with the je :ions tor the rods associated with said plates being avoided by the plate when the latter is shifted from positionshown 'in Fig.

v Y The projections 46 are ot vsuch shape that as the plate 18 is moved. certain portions of said plate will engage said project-ions and lift up said arms 46. the :,ttD, E and G arms (seeFiU.'

#A 'E and G, valves, the other vpro'-l inward to fengage the stop `or shoulder 81 shown in Fieri 9,7such-"thatthe 'projections 47 on the larms t6 associated with'theF, ,ttGr' -valveswill be l engaged"andY lifted. This will cause lfthe' E and att-G" valves l to be opened-in thefsairie manner' asA the valves previously described', the" `shafts 48 being turned and Elifting-onthe arms 44 which` are connected ywith the E I and means of the loops 115.

To play the minor'lor diminished chords #G valves, by

in` thefkeyr et G, the operator pushes the leverfroin-`-its l neutral position* outward againstthestop 39, still holding the` key of Bte :this saniekey, thefrlev'er lis pushed further' and` thisrshifts the; =plate18 intoposition -f C '7, depressed and this shifts the Aplate 18 l.intothey position .shown in Fig. v6,'-whe`reby`V the far1ns1116ffo1-tlie- Gyand #Dfvalves are operated as-the plate is shifted, this causing- Vthe@ anditD valves to be operated as previously4 described. 1

Toplay the-diminished chord-in thiskey, the 'operator pushes 'the' valve '31y further outward against thelistoptQfand the arms 46 associated `with the. vrtl-D, and #AV valves are operated in thesamefmanner lasare the-other f valvesV previouslydescribed. VVhenthe operat-'or- 'releases'the lever 1 31 the: spring 38 operates te return the lever and its'associated parts' inclndinfglthe roY s ot plates'iS to nor# mal pos1t1on.-In this'w'ay'it is seenv Athat by the manipulation of 1 a single 'operating 'ele-` nient int-o tour diiiferentpositions, tour different-chords maytbefplayed'in any given' key. f The operatingmember"is arranged so i I claimt 1. The combination with an vaccordion Vwhich ,includesl a plurality oit valves which are-opened for*the-"purpose'ct playing dit# ferent notes 3oilhescale, of a plurality ot movableoperatmgf members, anarm carried by each operating member, means ot connectionl between the armsand the valves providing forE -openingof Vthe valves on movement Lof the yarms and operating mem Y bersfa plurality "o'li levers tixed'to `and ei:- tendingftrom vfeachf'o't said operating members,-on 'movement ot which levers said operating members :are likewise moved and move the arms'carr-ied thereby, a frame slid- `alolelon theaccordion, aplurality ot' angir greater number of chords, it de*` lar plates pivotally mounted upon said frame and movable on. their pivots bodily into vand out of engagement with said levers, a plurality of push button keys,.a bell crank for each key, a rod connecting each key with a bell crank, said bell cranks being arranged to engage and liftsaid plates when rocked, said arms being engaged with and arranged to be moved upwardly by said bell cranks and means for shifting said plates bodily into different positions with respect to said levers.

2. An accordion including a plurality of valves which are opened for the purpose of playing different notes ofthe scale, a plurality o't devices for independently opening said valves, a plurality of devices for simultaneouslyl opening groups of said valves, which last named means includes a plurality of plates movable bodily into a plurality of different positions and pivoted in order that they may be swung on said pivots, which pla-tes are constructed so that when in different positions will cause ditlerent groups of valves to be simultaneously operated.

3. An accordion including a plurality of valves which are opened for the purpose of playing ditl'erent notes of the scale, a (plurality of rotatable rods, an arm exten ing from each rod, means of connection between the valves and said arms providing for opening the valves when saidk rods are turned and the arms are lnoved, a plurality of levers extending from each rod and on movement olf which said rods are turned, a plurality of pivoted and bodily movable plates ot' angular formation, each of which plates is adapted to engage and move a pllurality of said levers, which plates W en moved into different positions will engage between said levers, means for shifting the plates bodily into dili'erent positions, a plurality of members adapted to engage and push the plates upward on their pivots, with which members said arms engage so as to be likewise pushed upwardly and a lurality of devices for operating said ast named members.

4. An accordion including a plurality of valves which are opened for the purpose of playing dill'erent notes, a plurality of rotatable rods, a plurality of arms extending from said rods, a plurality of members connecting said arms with said valves, a plurality of levers extending from each rod and on movement of which levers the rods l are rotated, a plurality of pivotally mount- .includes members adapted to move into enengagement with and lift both said arms and said plates 5. An accordion including a plurality 'of valves which are opened for the purpose of playing different notes, a plurality of rotatable rods, a plurality of arms extending from said rods, a plurality of members connecting said arms with said valves, a plurality of levers extendinor from each rod and on movement of whic levers the rods are rotated, a plurality of ivotally mounted plates shiftable into dierent positions, which plates when in one position are adapted to engage certain of the levers and when in other positions are adapted to engage and rock other of the levers, means for simultaneously shifting the plurality of plates, means for individually rocking the plates on their pivots, which last named means includes members adapted to move into engagement with and lift both said arms and said plates and spring means for returning .said plates to normal position.

An accordion including a plurality of valves which are opened to play certain notes ol the scale, a plurality ot rotatable rods, a plurality of arms extending from and which are moved on rotation of the rods, loops extending upwardly from the valves and through which loops said arms extend, a plurality ot' levers each ol" which is connected with each ol' said rods, which levers when rocked cause the rods lo rotate, a plu rality o'l plates each of which is adapted lo engage a plurality ol said levers, means upon which said plates are pivotally mounted, which means is slidably mounted on the accordion, said plates heilig arranged to engage certain groups of levers when in one position and other groups ol levers 'when in other positions, means tor collectively shifting said plates into different positions and means for selectively rockingrsaid plates on their pivots, which last named means comprises push button keys, rods extending from and which are actuated by said keys, bell cranks connected with and which are rocked by said rods, projections on the bell cranks adapted to engage and rock said plates. through which projections said arms extend and spring means normally holding said plates in one of its positions.

7. In an accordion a plurality of valves, means for sin'iultaneously opening groups of said valves including levers and a plurality of angularly constructed plates each of which plates is adapted to engage a plurality of said levers, means for simultaneously and bodily moving said plates into different positions. said plates being constructed to cause relative groups of levers to be engaged when in one position and other groups of levers to be engaged when in another position, means for pivot-ally mounting said plates on the accordion and means lor selectively and independently rocking` the plates onl'heir pivots. v

8. An accordion includingr a plurality of valves, a plurality oil rods if'otatahly mounted on the accordion, a plurality of arms fastened to said rods, a plurality o'l' upstanding loops on the valves through which said arms extend, a plurality oi levers 'fastened to and extending 'from each rod, a plurality of projections on the free ends of the levers, a plurality olf angularly constructed plates each of which is adapted to engage la plurality of levers. a plurality of projections, a carriage slidahle on Athe accordion and on which said plates are pivotally mounted, means for sliding the carriage and movingthe plates into di lierent positions and .means for selectively and independently moving the plates on their pivots into engagement with said pro- -iections, which means comprises depressihle keys, Va plurality rods connected with the keys, a plurality of hell cranks pivoted on `the accordion and which said last named rods are connected, projections on the hell cranlrs adapted to engage and rock the plates on rocking of the hell cranks, which projec tions engage and are adapted to move said arms, andV spring means normally holding the carriage in onel of its positions.

9. In an accordion a plurality oi valves, means for simultaneously opening thevalves of a selected group of 'valves to produce a chord, which means includes a single operating element which, when depressed, will cause the valves of said selected group to hesinxultaneously opened and means on movement of whiehgvhile the lirst named means is in operation, will cause af dil'lerent group ol valves to loe opened to play different chords, which last named means includes a single operating lever' movable into different positions and which when in each of its separate positions will cause a different chord to he played.

l0. An accordion comprising a plurality of valves, means lor simultaneously opening any one of certain groups of valves, which when opened, will produce given chord in a `Q iven lrey and means which after operation of the iirst named means` provides for selectively opening other' valves Within a given Lsgroup related to a given key in order to produce diflerent chords in said key, which last named means includes a single operatinglever movable into a plurality of different positions to cause the different chords of a given key to be played.

JOSEPH GALLEAZZI. 

